Also, now of late, a China junck arived at Shaxma in Japon, which came from Caggalion, in the Manillias, and brought 4 Spaniardes or Portingales in her for passingers, they telling the Chinas they were merchantes, but are fownd to be pristes and sent presoners to Nangasaque, where it is thought they shalbe rosted to death as the former have byn, and the China marenars in danger all to lose their lives, and the goodes seazed upon, which did all belong to Andrea Dittis, the China Capt. (our frend), whoe is forced to send his sonne to the court with great presentes to save his goodes, yf it be possible.
The capt. more or major of the Portingall gallion or adventures which com from Amacon to Nangasaque, called Jeronimo de Figeredo Caravallo, with Lues Martin, Jorge Bastian, and Jarvasias Garçis, Portugezes, and Harnando Ximenes, a Spaniard, whoe was jurebasso in tyms past at Bantam, are brought in question for going about to steale a fryer or padre from the Hollands howse the last yeare,
and, allthough the padre was brought back (which was one of them which was rosted), yet are they all empresoned and condemned and all their goodes confiscat, and looke howrly when they shall be executed. And one of the Hollandes jurebassos and a scrivano, being Japons, with the master of the bark which carid hym away, his wife and children, all executed; this Emperour, Shongo Samma, being such a mortall enemie to the name of a Christian, espetially of papisticall Christians. And heretofore, when I was at the court at Edo, the Emperours councell did aske me severall tymes whether I were a Christian or our English nation soe; which I tould hym yea; and, in the end, askinge me soe often, I tould them they might perceve per the letters the Kinges Matie. of England sent to themperour of Japon whether we were Christians or noe, the Kinges Matie. writing hymselfe defender of the Christian faith. And then they asked me whether there were any difference betwixt our religion and the Spanish; unto which I answered yea, for that we held nothing of the pope of Roome, but next and emediately under God from our kinge: which it seemed in some sort to geve them content.
We and the Hollanders have had much a doe in standing out for not delivring the priz goodes of the friggat, it belonging to our prince and cuntrey, as taken from their enemies. But that would not serve, the tono or cheefe justis of Firando telling us that, yf we would not leave it by feare meanes, they would take it whether we would or noe, and that yf we had not absolutely proved the Portingalls to be padres, that themperour ment to have put Capt. Leonard Camps and me to death and to have sezed on all we had in the cuntrey, and, yf any resistance had byn made, to have burned all our shiping and put us all to the sword. God send us well out of Japon, for I dowbt it wilbe every day worse then other.
Yt is also said the Emperour will banish all Spaniardes and Portingall howseholders out of Japon, and suffer non to stay but such as com and goe in their shiping, to prevent entertayning of padres. And soe let this suffice for the present state of Japon.
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And soe I leave your Wors. with your affares to the holy protection of thallmightie, resting
Your Wors. most humble servant at comand,
Ric. Cocks.
This letter was first sent per the Trow, a Hollandes shipp, but, shee and others being retorned back per stormy wether, I send it now per the Bull.